Southern California -- this just in

Videotapes could exonerate Giants fan beating suspect; court order to be sought

June 6, 2011 | 7:54
am

An attorney for a man suspected in the beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow is expected on Monday to file court papers seeking videotapes that he believes could exonerate his client.

In the motion, attorney Anthony Brooklier says that suspect Giovanni Ramirez and his girlfriend stayed at a Comfort Inn on Vermont Avenue near the 101 Freeway on April 1 — the day after the beating outside Dodger Stadium.

Brooklier says video from the hotel and from a nearby gas station could show that Ramirez had a noticeable head of hair. The suspect in Stow's beating was described by witnesses and in police sketches as being bald.

Though Ramirez, 31, was arrested nearly two weeks ago, L.A. County prosecutors have yet to charge him in connection with the beating. Prosecutors asked police to gather more evidence in the case, and officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said they hope to present the case again soon.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck on Thursday said detectives strongly believe Ramirez beat Stow and have enough evidence to prove it. Speaking to reporters last week, Beck said detectives plan to re-file the case to prosecutors "in the near future."

"My job is not to prepare a case for the media," he said. "My job is to prepare a case in court."

Ramirez was the subject of a lineup and lie-detector tests, but the results have not been released.

Ramirez's daughter faced reporters Friday night, insisting her father was at home at the time of the attack.

"I think it's not my dad, and I pretty much know it's not him," the 10-year-old girl told reporters at a news conference. "I am sad because he's in jail."